“Vintern var Hård” (A Song)

As Tim Howell emphasizes, Finnish composer Aulis Sallinen has achieved an international reputation for his “neo-romantic” compositions. A student of the illustrious Sibelius Academy, Sallinen studied under such respected composers as Joonas Kokkonen and Aarre Merikanto. Since then, he has written six operas, eight symphonies, and numerous concertos and chamber works. Blending traditional melodies with modern aesthetics, Sallinen, as Howell argues, has fashioned a unique form of music which pays homage to the past through contemporary tones. “Vintern var Hård,” composed in 1969, is a testament to this innovative style. Its gloomy vocals and somber strings, coupled with the bleak lyrics recounting a bitter winter, make for a haunting piece of music.

Det fanns inte mycket att ge åt änderna.
Mor vände upp och ner på brödlådan.
Änderna kväkte och föreföll missnöjda.
Vattnet var svart och snart frös det till.

Vintern var hård, vintern var hård.
Också pengarna frös inne på banken.
Lördagskvällen kunde firas
bara varannan lördag.

There wasn’t much for the ducks. 
Mother turned the breadbin upside down. 
The ducks quacked and seemed dissatisfied 
The water was black and it soon froze.

Winter was hard, winter was hard.
Even money was frozen in the bank. 
Saturday evening could only be celebrated
every other Saturday.  

Works Referenced 

Howell, Tim. After Sibelius: Studies in Finnish Music. Burlington, VT: Ashgate Publishing Company, 2006.